“Rules of Seconds” – a Dark, Edgy, Comedy About Love & Honor

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The year is 1855. The place, Boston, where the slightest infraction between gentlemen was grounds for a challenge to be resolved with pistols. It was commonly known as a duel and it usually left one of the participants dead.

Even though this is a period piece, playwright John Pollen has given it a ‘2017’ feel. The play is smart, funny and insightful. The fact that the slightest infractions between gentlemen was grounds for a challenge to be resolved with pistols, and the ridiculous idea of sticking to the rules at all costs, is a great commentary on modern culture and politics in the 21st century.

Matthew Elkins plays mild mannered Nathanial ‘Wings’ Leeds who suffers from what we would now call OCD. When Wings is challenged to a duel by the most dangerous man in Boston, Walter Brown (Jamie Harris) he enlists the aid of a renowned duelist, who just happens to be his estranged brother, James (Josh Helman) – to the consternation of their mother, Martha (Amy Brenneman) who harbors secrets from her past. Deep family tensions and old rivalries resurface and of course, blood is spilled.

“Rules of Seconds” directed by Obie Award winner, Joe Bonney, does a wonderful job with his excellent cast, which includes Joshua Bitton, Ron Bottita, Leandro Cano, Feodor Chin, Damu Malik and Jennifer Pollen making this a must see play.

“Rules of Seconds” is part of The Temblors, a collective of seven diverse and acclaimed Los Angeles-based playwrights dedicated to shaking up local theatre by debuting original world premiere plays at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, located at Tom Bradley Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013.

The play opened on March 23 and runs through April 15. The remaining performances are: Thursdays at 8pm, April 6 and 13; Fridays at 8pm, April 7, 14; Saturdays at 8pm, April 8, 15 and Sundays at 3pm, April 9.  To purchase tickets call 866-811-4111 or go to http://thelatc.org/ Ticket prices are $22-52.

Joan Alperin

About Joan Alperin

Joan was born in Brooklyn and spent many years working as an actress in New York City. Even though she traveled extensively, Joan couldn't imagine living anywhere else.. Well one day, she met someone at a party who regaled her with stories about living in L. A. specifically Topanga Canyon. A few weeks later she found herself on an airplane bound for Los Angeles. Joan immediately fell in love with the town and has been living here for the last twenty years and yes, she even made it to Topanga Canyon, where she now resides, surrounded by nature, deer, owls and all kinds of extraordinary alien creatures.. Joan continued acting, but for the last several years (besides reviewing plays and film) she has been writing screenplays. Joan was married to a filmmaker who created the cult classic films, (way before she knew him) Faces of Death. As a result of his huge following, they created a funny movie review show entitled Two Jews on Film, where Joan and her husband, John would review movies and rate them with bagels You can see their reviews by going to youtube.com/twojewsonfilm. Although it's now only one Jew - Joan is occasionally joined by her beautiful Pekingnese and Japanese Chin.
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